Dispenser and contaminant sensor

ABSTRACT

A fluid dispenser including a contaminant sensor and methods of use of such a fluid dispenser to monitor contaminants either alone or in an array of similar dispensers within a facility.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a contaminant sensing dispenser and, moreparticularly, to a dispenser to dispense product to a user whichincorporates a contaminant sensor and provide indications of contaminantpresence at a single dispenser and in an array of such dispensers withina facility. The invention more particularly relates to such acontaminant sensing dispenser, an array of such dispensers and methodsof use of the dispenser and arrays of such dispensers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Fluid dispensers are known for dispensing cleaning and disinfectingfluids as liquids and foam for cleaning of a user's hands. Suchdispensers are provided in many facilities such as in hospitals, healthcare premises, restaurants, food processing areas, office buildings,schools, airports and the like. Paper towel dispensers are known fordispensing paper towels as to persons in a washroom.

The growth and presence of contaminants in many facilities has becomeincreasingly problematic. For example, the growth and presence ofpathogens such as bacteria and viruses in hospitals has become asignificant problem. Present methods of detection of such contaminantshave disadvantages that they are not adequate and notably do not provideadvance warnings of dangerous levels of contaminants. Present detectionsystems typically are so disadvantaged that warning of dangerouscontaminant situations arises after patients have been negativelyaffected and exhibit symptoms of the pathogens.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To at least partially overcome these disadvantages of previously knowndevices, the present invention provides a dispenser including acontaminant sensor and methods of use of such a dispenser to sensecontaminants either alone or in an array of similar dispensers within afacility.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved dispenser,preferably for dispensing product, particularly a dispenser fordispensing hand cleaning fluid or paper towels incorporating acontaminant sensor.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an array ofdispensers each including a sensor with the dispensers in the arraydisposed at spaced locations within a facility to monitor contaminantswithin the facility.

Another object is to provide a method of operating a dispensing sensoralone or in an array of similar dispensers to advantageously monitor fora contaminant.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of monitoring acontaminant and or a physical property in a facility comprising:

providing a dispenser for dispensing personal products to a user,

the dispenser carrying a sensor capable of detecting the presence andrelative level of the contaminant on the sensor or a physical propertyabout the sensor,

generating, for the dispenser periodically over time, signalsrepresentative of the level of the contaminant on the sensor or thelevel of the physical property about the sensor or the level of thephysical property about the sensor at different times,

optionally converting the signals to data representative of the level ofthe contaminant on the sensor or the level of the physical propertyabout the sensor at different times, and

optionally comparing the level sensed with one or more thresholds anddetermining if the level meets the thresholds,

wherein the dispenser is preferably selected from a paper toweldispenser and a fluid dispenser for dispensing fluid including a liquidcontaining reservoir and a pump to dispenser fluid from the reservoirand the sensor is preferably provided on an external surface of thedispenser open to the environment bout the dispenser.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a method of monitoringa contaminant in a facility comprising:

providing a plurality fluid dispensers at spaced locations about afacility including a plurality of fluid dispensers for dispensing fluidfor cleaning persons hands, each dispenser comprising a liquidcontaining reservoir and a pump to dispense fluid from the reservoir,

each dispenser carrying a sensor capable of detecting the presence andrelative level of the contaminant,

generating, for each dispenser periodically over time, signalsrepresentative of the level of the contaminant on each sensor atdifferent times,

optionally converting the signals to data representative of the level ofthe contaminant on each sensor at different times, and

optionally comparing the level of the contaminant sensed with one ormore thresholds and determining if the level of contaminant does notmeet the thresholds.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a contaminantsensing system for a facility comprising:

a common processor,

a plurality of fluid dispensers located at spaced locations within thefacility, each said dispenser comprising a replaceable liquid containingreservoir and a pump to dispense fluid from the reservoir,

each reservoir including a sensor,

the sensor sensing the presence of biologic contaminants, the biologiccontaminants selected from bacteria, viruses and other pathogens,

the sensor generating a signal when a contaminant is sensed,

each dispenser including a communications system for communicating thesignal to a common processor, and

the common processor monitoring the level of biologic contaminants oneach dispenser periodically over time.

In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a fluid dispenserfor dispensing fluid for cleaning person's hands,

the dispenser comprising a liquid containing reservoir and a pump todispense fluid from the reservoir,

the dispenser carrying a sensor on the surface capable of detecting thepresence and relative level of the contaminant,

a signal generator for generating a signal representative of the levelof the contaminant on the sensor, and

a processor for converting the signal to data representative of thelevel of the contaminant on the sensor at different times and forcomparing the level of the contaminant sensed with one or morethresholds and providing a warning signal when the level of contaminantexceeds the thresholds wherein preferably the dispenser includes anexternal surface open to the environment about the dispenser and thesensor is provided to sense contaminants from the environment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken together with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a soap dispenser in accordance with afirst embodiment of the invention schematically shown as being manuallyused by a user to dispense hand soap;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the soap dispenser of FIG. 1, however,with a nozzle shield in a raised, open position, the bottle removed anda pump mechanism being manually held by a user ready for insertion orremoval;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the soap dispenser of FIG. 1 in whichthe pump mechanism is coupled to the housing, the nozzle shield is in aclosed position and a bottle is being replaced;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 1 with thenozzle shield removed;

FIG. 5 is a schematic, partially cut-away cross-sectional side view ofthe dispenser in FIG. 1 with the nozzle shield in a closed position;

FIG. 6 is a schematic flow diagram showing electrically connectedelements of the dispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a health care facility having an array ofdispensers in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic flow diagram showing a first arrangement formonitoring and control of the array of dispensers in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic flow diagram similar to FIG. 1 but showing adifferent configuration of electrically powered elements of thedispenser of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a soap dispenser similar to that shownin FIG. 3 but with a modified bottle;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the bottle shown in FIG. 10 prior tocoupling to the dispenser;

FIG. 12 is a partial schematic pictorial view showing a modified bottleadded to the dispenser housing with complementary electrical touch padsfor electrical connection on coupling the bottle to the dispenser;

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a soap dispenser in accordancewith a second embodiment of the invention with a bottle attachedthereto;

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 13 with thebottle removed;

FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of an interior chassis of thedispenser of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of the chassis of FIG. 15 with itsback plate and selected other elements removed to facilitateunderstanding;

FIG. 17 is a schematic partial cross sectional plan view through thebottle sensor in FIG. 15;

FIG. 18 is a front perspective view of a soap dispenser in accordancewith a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 19 is a schematic plan view of a sensing mechanism for a sensorcarrying a plurality of individual sensing elements and schematicallyshown as coupled to a control module;

FIG. 20 is a cross section similar to FIG. 5 but showing a fan to blowair over a sensor provided on the bottom of the bottle; and

FIG. 21 is a schematic partial front and bottom perspective view of afourth embodiment of a dispenser in accordance with the presentinvention showing an indirect optical color sensor,

FIG. 22 is a schematic collage of a plurality of elements which may befound in a facility and which may be monitored in accordance withmethods of the present invention,

FIG. 23 is a schematic flow diagram showing a second arrangement formonitoring and control of an array of sensor carrying elements inaccordance with the present invention,

FIG. 24 is a schematic representation of use of an RFID system forcommunication of signals from one or more sensors

FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of a soap dispenser in accordancewith a fifth embodiment of the invention including a drip tray;

FIG. 26 is a side view of the dispenser of FIG. 25;

FIG. 27 is a vertical cross-sectional side view through the drip trayshown in FIGS. 25 and 26;

FIGS. 28, 29 and 30 is each a cross-sectional side view the same as FIG.27, however, showing a different configuration for the contaminantsensor; and

FIG. 31 is a front perspective view of a soap dispenser in accordancewith a sixth embodiment of the invention including a drip tray.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is made first to FIG. 1 which illustrates a first embodimentof a fluid dispenser 10 similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.7,748,573 to Ophardt et al, issued Jul. 6, 2010, the disclosure of whichis incorporated by reference. The dispenser 10 is adapted to be securedto a wall not shown. The dispenser 10 is schematically illustrated inFIG. 1 as adapted for manual activation as by a user using one hand 11to urge a lever 12 downwardly so as to dispense fluid 40 from a nozzle13 onto the palm of the other user's hand 14.

The dispenser 10 of this application differs from the dispenserdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,748,573 notably in providing on a surface49 of the side wall 18 of the housing 16, a sensor 50. The surface 49 ofthe side wall 18 is an exterior surface which is open to the environmentabout the dispenser. The sensor 50 is preferably a sensor capable ofsensing contaminants from the environment about the dispenser which cometo engage the sensor 50. The sensor 50 is preferably capable ofdetecting the presence of one or more contaminants on the sensor 50. Thesensor 50 is preferably an electronic sensor requiring electrical powerfor its operation.

Reference is made to FIG. 6 which schematically shows the sensor 50 anda control module 52 to control the sensor 50. The control module 52 ismounted to the housing 16 inside the upper interior of the housing asseen in FIG. 4 rearward of a support member 22 and springs 26 within arear space proximate a back plate 17 underneath a top 20 and between theside wall 18 and an opposite side wall 19. FIG. 4 shows a conduit 54connecting the sensor 50 to the control module 52.

In FIG. 6, the control module 52 is schematically illustrated as acircuit board which carries a processor 55, a communication device 56and a power source 54. Each of the sensor 50, communication device 56and power source 54 are connected to the processor 55. The processor 55controls the receipt and distribution of power from the power source tothe other electronic components and preferably the operation of theseother components.

In operation, the sensor 50 is controlled by the processor 55 to attimes as determined by the processor 55 to detect the presence of acontaminant on the sensor 50 and to generate a signal representative ofthe level of contaminant on the sensor 50. The processor 55 controls thecommunication device 56 so as to communicate as desired the signaland/or other data. The processor 55 in the preferred embodiment controlsthe communication device 56 so as to send the signal and/or other datato a remote electronic device. In the preferred embodiment thecommunication device including a wireless transmitter for which anantenna 57 is shown mounted externally on the top 20 of the dispenser10.

Reference is made to FIG. 7 which shows a plan view of a health carefacility 100 having a plurality of different dispensers 10 located atdifferent locations within the facility 100. The facility 100 has anumber of areas and rooms indicated as 101 to 108 with passage therebetween permitted by doors 109. The dispensers 10 are located at variousdifferent locations including those near the entry or exit of most doors109, and within the rooms. The dispensers 10 may be mounted to thewalls, on freestanding supports or supported on desktops, countertopsand the like. Multiple dispensers may be in any room as, for example, ina washroom with multiple toilets or sinks or wash stations, not shown.

Reference is made to FIG. 8 which schematically illustrates acontaminant sensing system 99. The system 99 includes the array ofdispensers 10 from FIG. 7 but FIG. 8 shows for ease of illustration onlythree of the dispensers 10, each of which is schematically shown to haveits respective communication device 56 wirelessly transmit informationto a wireless router 58 which is connected to the Internet 59 whichsubsequently routes and transfers the information to a computer server60.

The connection between each of the dispensers 10 and the router 58 neednot be wirelessly and can be for one or more of the dispensers ahardwired connection. The preferred manner of communication from eachdispenser 10 to the router 58 is wireless as, for example, preferablyusing a WiFi wireless system for communication between the communicationdevice 56 and the router 58 which would comprise a WiFi router. Thecommunication between the router 58 and the computer server 60preferably is through the Internet. While FIG. 8 shows but threecomputers connected to a single router, it is to be appreciated that asmany different dispensers 10 may be provided as desired for any facility100 with each dispenser 10 communicating by a router and, of course,that a number of different routers 58 may be provided to service variousof the dispensers 10. The router 58 is shown as being connected to onecomputer server 60, however, one or more different computer servers 60may be provided, however, preferably, all of the information which maybe gathered from any particular facility may be adapted to beconsolidated and monitored at a single server or central processor.

The facility 100 may comprise any areas whatsoever including, forexample, areas about or within one or more buildings, areasaccommodating people, areas for processing of food, transport ships, andtransportation terminals, or any portion thereof.

The communication between each dispenser 10 and the computer server 60is not limited. Each or some of the dispensers 10 could communicate withother dispensers. One of the dispensers 10 could function as a routerfor other of the dispensers. Each or some of the dispensers 10 couldcommunicate with message collection devices or directly to a computer asthrough a LAN as well as wireless router. Using the new IPV6 standard adispenser 10 can be identified by its own IP address and can communicateto find a server in CLOUD and communicate information into the server inCLOUD. The communication is preferably provided at least one way fromthe dispenser 10 to the computer server 60, however, may also be two waywith the dispenser 10 having capability to receive information fromother devices, preferably from the computer server 60.

The particular manner that the signal from the sensor 50 is processed isnot limited, and the signal may be processed in whole or in part in thedispenser 10 or in whole or in part in the computer server 60 or otherremote processing device.

For example, in a first manner of operation, the processor in thedispenser 10 may send relatively unprocessed signals and data to thecomputer server 60 as to minimize processing within the dispenser 10 andthus reduce the need for processing capability and data storage in thedispenser 10. The computer server 60 would convert the signals and datareceived to data representative of the level of contaminant on thesensor 50. In a second manner of operation, the processor 55 in thedispenser converts the signal generated by the sensor 50 to datarepresentative of the level of contaminant on the sensor 50, andcommunicates this data to the computer server 60. In a third manner ofoperation, the processor 55 in the dispenser converts the signalgenerated by the sensor 50 and its signal generator to datarepresentative of the level of contaminant on the sensor 50. Theprocessor 55 compares the level of contaminant sensed with one or morethresholds and makes ad determination as to whether the level ofcontaminant as sensed on the sensor exceeds one or more of thesethresholds, and as well may provides a warning signal if the level ofcontaminant as sensed on the sensor is determined to exceeds one or moreof these thresholds.

Referring to FIG. 4, the dispenser 10 includes the housing 16 having theback plate 17, the spaced side walls 18 and 19 and the top wall 20 whichdefining an interior 21 there between. The support member 22 is fixedlysecured in the interior of the housing between the side walls 18 and 19proximate the top wall 20. A lever mechanism 23 including the lever 12and a lever bridge plate 24 is pivotally mounted to the support member22. The lever springs 26 are disposed between the lever bridge plate 24and the support member 22 so as to bias the lever 12 to an upper raisedposition.

FIG. 4 shows a nozzle shield 27 separate from the housing 16 and readyfor manual coupling to the support member 22. FIG. 2 illustrates thedispenser 10 with the nozzle shield 27 coupled to the support member 22and placed in a raised open position in which position the nozzle shield27 permits a pump mechanism 28 to be coupled or uncoupled to the supportmember 22 by sliding forwardly or rearwardly. In this regard, thesupport member 22 carries a support plate with a central slot 30 open ata forward end. As seen in FIG. 2, vertical side walls 31 and 32 extendupwardly from the support plate 29 on each side thereof. The pumpmechanism 28 is adapted to slide rearwardly into the central slot 30with the slot 30 disposed about an enlarged radius cylindrical portion33. A rectangular plate 34 is carried on the pump mechanism 28 above thecylindrical portion 33. The rectangular plate 34 is to be received abovethe support plate and located against rotation between the side walls 31and 32.

Reference is made to FIG. 3 which illustrates the dispenser 10 after thepump mechanism 28 has been applied as in FIG. 2 and the nozzle shield 27moved from the raised open position of FIG. 2 to the closed positionseen in FIG. 3. A bottle 35 with an open upper end 36 may be, whendisposed at an angle, placed to have a dip tube 37 of the pump mechanism28 inside its open end 36 and the bottle 35 then slid upwardly betweenthe side walls 18 and 19 of the housing 16 upwardly about the dip tube37 to a position where a bottom 38 of the bottle is disposed above aheight of a support ledge 39 secured across the back of the housing 16.The bottom 38 of the bottle 35 may then be pushed rearwardly to rest onthe support ledge 39. The bottle 35 serves as a removable andreplaceable reservoir for the fluid to be dispensed. With the bottle 35inserted and in the position, for example, as illustrated in FIG. 1,pressing downwardly on the lever 12 will dispense fluid 40 out of thenozzle 13 of the pump mechanism 28. The pump mechanism 28 preferablycomprises a piston pump assembly with the nozzle 13 comprising a forwardhollow tubular extension from a piston 41 which is slidable within apiston chamber forming element 42 which has liquid fed to it from thebottle 38 via the dip tube 37. The piston 44 is reciprocally verticallydisplaced by the lever mechanism 23 to pump fluid. FIGS. 2 and 3 show insolid lines one configuration in which the bottle 35 may be replacedindependently of the pump mechanism 28, FIG. 2 schematicallyillustrates, in dashed lines, a bottle 35 mechanically secured to thepump mechanism 28 forming together a replaceable unit that can as a unitbe coupled to and uncoupled from the dispenser for al removed andreplacement as a unit via the forward access provided to the interior 21of the housing 16 when the nozzle shield 28 in a raised open position asseen in FIG. 2. The replaceable unit comprising the bottle 35 and thepump mechanism 28 is preferably disposable when empty.

The preferred embodiment of the dispenser 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5illustrates a single sensor 50 carried on the exterior surface 49 of theside wall 18. Sensors similar to the sensor 50 sensor 50 may be providedat other locations on the dispenser 10, including, for example, on aninside surface of the side wall 18; on an inside or an outside surfaceof the side wall 19, on the upper surface of the top 20, and on thenozzle shield 27 as, for example, on any of a top surface 64, sidesurface 66, front end surface 67 or under surfaces 68; on the activationlever 12, on the pump mechanism 28 and on the bottle 35. A sensor couldbe provided on the lever 12 preferably on a forwardmost horizontalportion 70 of the lever 12 which is most likely to be contacted by thehand of a user. A sensor could be provided on the nozzle 13 preferablyproximate where a fluid is discharged and there may be a likelihood ofeither contact by a user's hand or growth of biological contaminants.

The sensor may be provided secured to components of the dispenser 10which are typically not replaced and such a sensor would need to have arelatively long useful life. The sensor may, however, be provided to beremovable and replaceable from the dispenser 10 so as to permit the useof a sensor whose sensing activities are only effective for a period oftime or which degrades with time as, for example, as contaminants cometo engage the surface of the sensor. In this regard, the sensor 50 ofthe preferred embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 preferably is a replaceablesensor as, for example, comprising a replaceable member which can besecured to the side wall 18 and releasably electrically connected to thecontrol module 52 by the provision and use of a manually engageable endreleasable plug 61 on the conduit 53 which releasably connects thesensor 50 to the control module 52. In the preferred embodiment, thesensor 50 comprises a relatively flat planar member to be adhesivelysecured to the wall 18 with a release adhesive permitting later removalof the sensor 50. As seen in FIG. 4, an opening 62 is provided throughthe wall 18 behind the sensor 50 through which the conduit 53 is passedto provide for connection of the sensor 50 shown in dashed lines in FIG.4 to the control module 52. Such as removable and replaceable sensor 50may, for example, be provided in a kit with a replacement bottle 35 witha user on replacing an empty bottle 35 at the same time, manuallyreplacing the sensor 50 with a new replacement sensor. The sensor 50may, for example, be coupled to a replacement bottle 35 such that theremoval of a closure on the bottle 35 to permit its insertion and use ona dispenser 10 also requires removal of the new sensor 50.

Wherever the sensor 50 is located on the dispenser 10, it is within thescope of a person skilled in the art to provide a method for providingelectrical power to the sensor 50 from the control module 52 to the siteof the removable sensor 50 and to provide a mechanism for easyelectrical connection. For example, at a location where any sensor is tobe provided, electrical contact pads may be provided on the dispenser 10to engage electrical contact pads carried on the sensor. Insofar as thesensor 50 is desired to be secured to the handle 12, insofar as thehandle 12 is a hollow tube, then electric wiring can extend internallywithin the handle to a location where the sensor 50 is to be located.The handle 12 may be made from a left half portion and a right halfportion, each as a metal rod or tube, and with a plastic spacer in thecenter of the forwardmost horizontal portion 70 which mechanicallyconnect the two metal halves together while electrically separatingthem. A sensor could be provided with a first electrical contact pad toengage the left half portion and a second electrical contact pad toengage the right half portion and thus the sensor will bridge betweenthe two metal halves and complete an electrical conduit between the rearends of each of the metal halves which are each to be electricallyconnected to the control module 52.

Preferably, a sensor timing arrangement is provided which will determinethe time when a sensor is initially activated so as to first permitcontaminants engage on its surface and with the sensor timingarrangement including a timing device such that signals from the sensorrepresentative of the level of contamination of the sensor are providedwith an indication as to relative time and the time from initialactivation. Such a timing arrangement may arise, for example, in theembodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5 with the processor 55 including a timer and acapability to sense when the plug of a new sensor 50 is first connectedto the control module 52. While not necessary, it is preferred that eachsensor 50 may have an identification number and the control module 52have a capability to determine the identification number of each sensor50 and to determine the first time when any particular sensor 50 issensed as being electrically connected and/or initially activated.Preferably, the sensor 50 may have some protective mechanism to preventcontaminates from becoming engaged on the sensor 50 prior to electricalconnection of the sensor and or activation. As schematically illustratedin FIG. 3, a protective release sheet 80 is provided over the sensor 50which release sheet 80 has a tab 81 to be manually engaged to remove therelease sheet after electrical connection of the sensor 50 to thecontrol module 52. By removing the release sheet 80, the sensor 50 wouldbe initially activated, meaning that the surface of the sensor 50 wouldfirst come to become open to being engaged by contaminants. The removalof the release sheet 80 and the initial activation of the sensor 50could be assumed to occur at substantially the same time that the sensor50 is electrically connected to the control module 52.

As another arrangement, the release sheet 80 could include an elementwhich blocks electrical connection of the sensor 50 to the controlmodule 52 or otherwise prevent the operation of the sensor 50 until suchtime as the release sheet is removed. With such an arrangement, removalof the release sheet 80 would initially activate the sensor 50 after thesensor 50 was previously electrically connected to the module 52. Thiswould permit the dispenser 10 to have the sensor 50 removably attachedwith the release sheet 80 in place to be shipped and transported readyfor use by installation of the dispenser 10 and removal of the releasesheet 80.

The sensor 50 shown in FIG. 3 is a relatively thin planar member whichcan be releasably secured to the side wall 18 as by a releasableadhesive on the rear of the sensor 50. The release member 80 ispreferably a thin sheet, for example, of plastic material which may besecured as over the forward surface of the sensor 50 by an adhesive, atleast with the adhesive about a periphery of the front surface of thesensor so as to avoid sensory areas on the sensor which contaminants areto engage and be sensed. The sensor 50 preferably has electricalcomponents and circuitry printed thereon. The release sheet 80 may haveelectrical components and circuitry printed thereon to be coupled withthe electrical components and circuitry on the sensor 50 to blockingoperation of the sensor 50 until the release sheet 80 is removed.

Various sensors are known which would be useful as a sensor 50 inaccordance with the present invention. A sensor could be used whichaccurately senses the presence of one or more specific contaminants.Such sensors are often expensive and have difficulties in respect ofaccuracy and calibration. In the context of an arrangement in accordancewith the present invention in which an array comprising a plurality ofdispensers is provided within a facility, the invention permits the useof sensors which may not individually be accurate in predicting thepresence of a contaminant. In accordance with the present invention, byproviding an array of dispensers 10 in which a number of dispensers 10are used in a facility 100, sensors 50 may be used which may not beconsidered particularly accurate or relatively accurately calibrated.Preferably, in accordance with the present invention, the array ofdispensers 10 provided is in a facility in a relatively large number ofdispensers. The number of dispensers is preferably at least 25 and, morepreferably, at least 50, at least 100, at least 200, at least 300, atleast 400, at least 500 and, more preferably, at least 1000 dispensers.In accordance with the present invention, it is preferred that arelatively large number of the dispensers 10 are included in the arraywithin the facility 100. The opportunity to have such a large number ofarrays of dispensers 10 in a facility is readily achievable as, forexample, in health care facilities and hospitals and where large numberof dispensers is provided in relatively small areas. Insofar as thedispensers 10 carrying the sensors 50 are manually operated dispensers,there is an easy opportunity for easily providing large numbers suchdispensers 10 in an array in the facility.

In many environments such as hospitals where there are concerns aboutcontaminants, particularly biological contaminants, it is desired thatthe bottles 35 containing the fluid to be dispensed be changedrelatively frequently, particularly where there is an opportunity ornecessity for the dispenser to be engaged by a user in dispensing thefluid, and the dispenser may serve as a location for the deposit, andtransfer to others of contaminants. Preferably, each bottle 35 isreplaced about every 14 to 30 days whether or not the bottle is empty offluids. Such bottles 35 have preferred volumes in the range of 500 ml to2 litres. A preferred bottle 35 has a volume of 500 ml which in manyhospital and health care environments will result in the bottle, whenplaced in areas of a facility with average usage being typically emptiedand replaced every two to three weeks. The bottles 35 are alsopreferably available in larger sizes such as 1 litre and greater, whichare advantageous for insertion into dispensers 10, in relatively highuse areas, such that the bottles 35 may be expected to be emptied withinone to four weeks. Preferably, a new replacement sensor 50 is providedand replaced each time the removable bottle 35 is replaced. In such anarrangement, the replaceable sensor 50 need only have, at most, a usefullife which is the useful life of the average bottle which typically doesnot exceed two to four weeks. Providing a sensor 50 which would beactive for merely two to four weeks would be useful in accordance withthe invention of the present application and, again, facilitate theselection of a sensor by eliminating the need for long term usefulsensing.

Moreover, in accordance with the present invention, in one preferredembodiment, the replaceable sensor 50 may only be useful to sensecontamination for a relatively short period of time such as, forexample, selected from a time period of a number of minutes, or hours,or days or weeks after activation. For example, a sensor might have auseful sensing life of but a few minutes, say, for example, 5, 15 or 30minutes or, for example, one, two, six, twelve, eighteen, twenty-fourhours or thirty-six hours or two days, three days, four days, five days,six days or seven days or some time period, for example, between one dayand fourteen days.

The preferred sensor 50 in accordance with the present invention is asensor capable of sensing contaminants on the sensor. In the case ofbiologic contaminants, the presence of the biologic contaminants on thesensor 50 may increase with time as the biologic contaminants may growand remain engaged on the sensor 50. Signals indicating the level ofcontaminants on the sensor may be provided over time from the time ofactivation onward. The speed at which the level of contaminants increasecan be measured on the sensor during its useful life as one factor toindicate the relative level of contaminants in the environment about thedispenser. As an example of an array of dispensers 10 in accordance withthe present invention, 1000 dispensers 10 can be provided in a hospitalfacility. Each sensor 50 with the various individual dispensers 10 willbe replaced periodically and preferably randomly, upon replacement ofthe bottles 35. Each dispenser 10 will provide data information to thecentral computer server 60 including the time when each sensor wasinitially activated, and levels of contaminant sensed at various timesafter initial activation. From such data, amongst other items, the speedat which the level of contaminant changes typically increases can bedetermined. The data received from the 1000 dispensers 10 can besubjected to various data manipulation techniques such as statisticalanalysis, and averaging including techniques to disregard, for example,readings from sensors which are within either a bottom percentile ofcontamination level readings for all comparable dispensers such as, forexample, in the bottom 10% or above a certain percentile ofcontamination level readings for all comparable dispensers such as above90%. The data may be collected from the dispensers 10 in the facility100 over a period of time such as over a three, six or twelve monthperiod of time to establish expected baselines and establish thresholdsagainst which future data can be compared. Thereafter, data monitoredfrom the array of dispensers as a whole and, as well, from individualgroups of dispensers within the array or individual dispensers may becompared to the historical values to assist in generalizeddeterminations as to whether or not there may be an increase incontaminants in the facility as a whole or certain areas in the facilityor even at certain dispensers. Such data can serve as an early warningsystem towards giving notice and early warning of increasingcontaminants. Data gathered from one facility such as a first hospitalmay be compared to data from another facility such as a second hospital.

Various algorithms such as statistical assessments will be apparent to aperson skilled in the art as useful towards assessing the data receivedfrom the dispensers towards developing thresholds and assessing whenreasonable thresholds for levels of contaminants have been exceeded orlevels of contaminants are at acceptable levels.

The sensor 50 may be adapted to sense one or more contaminants. Apreferred sensor may be a relatively simple sensor which is adapted tosense one contaminant or type of contaminant. While there may be knowncontaminants which are of a particular concern as in a hospitalenvironment such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA),a type (strain) of staph bacteria that does not respond to someantibiotics that are commonly used to treat staph infections andClostridium difficile (C. difficile) bacteria and while it would bepreferred to use a sensor which would sense for the presence of anyparticular pathogen, this is not necessary for the invention to becarried out. One preferred embodiment of the invention is to utilize asensor which senses an indicator contaminant which is reasonablyexpected to have a correlation to a contaminant of concern withoutdirectly sensing contaminant of concern. For example, in a hospitalenvironment, while it might be difficult to have a sensor which sensesMRSA, insofar as other biologic contaminants such as common E. colibacteria are sensed, an increase in the level of E. coli bacteria isreasonably to be expected to be correlatable to a rise in otherdangerous contaminants such as MRSA and C. difficile. A sensor for E.coli or other indicator contaminant which is more readily available andless expensive comprises a reasonable sensor to be used toward assistingand indicating general levels of contamination within a hospitalfacility and may be demonstrated by historical data to having acorrelation to other unsensed contaminants. As another example, ratherthan sense bacteria, micro-organisms or plants directly, signallingmoleculars produced by the bacteria, micro-organisms or plants may besensed as methods of detecting the bacteria, micro-organisms and plantsas in a manner described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,843 to Stubbs et al,issued Jan. 26, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

In FIG. 6, the control module 52 is shown as including a power source54. One preferred power source is a removable and replaceable battery.The nature of the power source 54 to be used is not limited and wouldinclude, for example, mechanisms to generate power and mechanisms tostore the power. Mechanisms to generate power can include light poweredgenerators, such as solar generators, and generators which provide poweron a user manually activating the dispenser as by moving the lever 12.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the sensor 50 is hardwired tothe control module 52 and receives electrical power from the controlmodule 52. Reference is made to FIG. 9 which shows an alternatearrangement for the connection of the control module 52 and the sensor50. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the sensor 50 is illustrated as awireless sensor 50 having electrically connected elements comprising asensor processor 75, a sensor communication device 76, a sensor powersource 74 as well as a contaminant sensing mechanism 73. The sensorpower source 74 preferably is a battery. The sensor communication device76 is adapted to wirelessly communicate with the communication device 56on the control module 52. The nature of the wireless communicationbetween the control module 52 and the sensor control device 76 is notlimited but can preferably provide but one-way communication from thesensor 50 to the control module 52. The wireless communication betweenthe control module 52 and the sensor control device 76 is preferablyover but a very short distance. One preferred method of communicationwould be WiFi wireless communication. The communication device 56 of thecontrol module 52 may use different wireless communication systems tocommunicate with the sensor communication device 76 than with otherremote devices such as the wireless router 58.

The combination of the wireless sensor 50 and the control module 52 asshown in FIG. 9 can advantageously be used as, for example, in theembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 so as to, for example, avoid theneed for a hardwired communication between the sensor 50 and the controlmodule 52 and thus eliminate, for example, the conduit 53 and its plugas shown in FIG. 4. Use of a wireless sensor 50 can facilitate thelocation of a sensor at virtually any location on the dispenser 10 andits components and facilitate the installation and removal of any sensorwhich is to be removable and replaceable. Insofar as the wireless sensor50 is carried on the dispenser 10 in relative close proximity to thecontrol module 52, the battery serving as the power source 77 for thewireless sensor need not have any substantial capacity to powercommunication. Preferably, in an arrangement as shown in FIG. 9, thewireless sensor would be located within, at most, twelve inches, morepreferably, at most, six inches or three inches from the control module52. The arrangement illustrated in FIG. 9 is readily adapted forsubstitution for the sensor 50 and control module 52 as in FIG. 4eliminating the need for the hardwired conduit 53.

As another embodiment of the dispenser 10, a wireless sensor 50 asillustrated in FIG. 9 could be provided in the dispenser 10 andcommunicate as, for example, wirelessly with the wireless router 58 asshown, for example, in FIG. 8. In such a case, the control module 52could be eliminated from the dispenser, however, the sensor processor 75in that case would need to have the capability of controlling the sensor50 and its operation and suitably transmitting acceptable signals anddata to the router 58. Thus control module 52 could be eliminated fromthe dispenser 10 or at least not serve a purpose in the control of orcommunication with the sensor 50.

Reference is made to FIG. 10 which is identical to FIG. 3, however,shows a second sensor 50 as applied to the bottle 35 on a front surface80 of a front wall 81 of the bottle 35. The sensor 50 shown in FIG. 10on the bottle is preferably a wireless sensor of the type illustrated inFIG. 9 which may be provided in combination with a control module 52 ofthe type shown in FIG. 9 carried internally within the dispenser forcommunication between the wireless sensor 50 on the bottle and thecontrol module 52 (not shown in FIG. 10) or, alternatively, the sensormay comprise a stand alone sensor 50 of the type illustrated in FIG. 9,however, with capability of transmitting directly from the sensor 50 onthe bottle to the wireless router 58 shown in FIG. 8. FIG. 9 continuesto show a first sensor 50 on the side wall 18 of the dispenser 10 inaddition to the sensor 50 on the bottle 35, although only one sensor isnecessary.

FIG. 11 shows the bottle 35 used in FIG. 10, however, prior to couplingof the bottle to the dispenser with the bottle carrying a removablesnap-off cap 90 sealing the opening to the bottle 35. The sensor 50 isshown as covered by the transparent removable release sheet 80 which onremoval activates the sensor 50. The cap 90 needs to be removed prior tocoupling of the bottle to the dispenser. A strap 91 mechanically couplesthe cap 90 to the release sheet 80 such that with removal of the cap 90for use of the bottle 35, the release sheet 80 is automatically removed.

Reference is made to FIG. 12 which illustrates a dispenser 10 similar tothat shown in FIG. 4 but in which a wired sensor 50 is provided on thefront surface of the bottle 35 and in which connection wires 93 and 94extend from the sensor 50, each to a respective metal electrical contactpad 95 and 96 provided on the bottom 38 of the bottle. Correspondingelectrical contact pads 97 and 98 are provided on a support ledge 39secured across the back of the dispenser housing 16. When the bottle 35is engaged on the housing in the manner as seen in side view in FIG. 5,the contact pads 95 and 96 of the wireless sensor 50 carried on thebottle 35 will make electrical contact with the contact pads 96 and 97on the support ledge 39. The contact pads 96 and 97 on the support ledge39 have connection wires 87 and 88 which extend to the control module52. This arrangement of FIG. 12 provides for a removable bottle 35 withthe sensor 50 attached to the bottle 35 and adapted to be hard wired tothe control module 52 when the bottle 35 is engaged to the dispenser 10.

FIG. 10 shows two sensors 50 on the dispenser, namely the sensor 50 onthe side wall 18 of the dispenser 10 in addition to the sensor 50 on thebottle 35, although only one sensor is necessary. In accordance with thepresent invention, one, two, three or more sensors may be provided onthe same dispenser. The various sensors 50 may be hardwired in anarrangement as illustrated in FIG. 6 or wireless as in an arrangement inFIG. 9. Some of the sensors may be hardwired and others may be wireless.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a replaceable unit comprising not onlythe bottle 35 but also the pump 28 securely attached thereto. As in themanner illustrated in FIG. 10 or FIG. 12, a sensor 50 may be provided onthe bottle 35 of the replacement unit shown in FIG. 2 comprising thebottle 35 together with the pump 28. In another embodiment of such areplaceable unit, a sensor 50 can be applied onto the nozzle 13 andremovable with the replaceable unit.

Reference is made to FIGS. 13, 14, 15 and 16 showing a dispenser inaccordance with a second embodiment of the invention.

In discussion of the second embodiment of FIGS. 13 to 17, the samereference numerals as used in FIGS. 1 to 12 are used to refer to similarelements. The dispenser 10 of the second embodiment is substantially thesame as the dispenser 10 of the first embodiment with the exception thata number of additional features are added. The dispenser has a chassis130 within its housing 16. Most notably, as seen in FIG. 16, thedispenser includes a generator 120 to generate electrical power on auser moving the lever 12. As seen in FIG. 16, the left hand arm 122 ofthe lever 12 extends rearwardly for pivotal connection near a rear end123 of the arm 122 to the upper end of a rigid link arm 124. A lower end125 of the link arm 124 is pivotally connected to a first drive gear 126by being engaged journalled for rotation in an opening extending axiallythrough the first drive gear 126 at a radial location spaced from theaxis about which the first drive gear 126 rotates. The first drive gear126 is connected by a series of gears 127 and 128 which are linked to agear axle 129 on the generator 120. While not shown in FIGS. 13 to 17,the handle 12 is preferably biased to a raised upper position by springssuch as the springs 26 shown in FIG. 4. On movement of the handle 12downwardly by a user to dispense fluid against the bias of the springs,the link arm 124 rotates the first gear 126 and hence rotates the gearsof the gear train to rotate the generator to generate power. After auser has moved the lever 12 to a lower position in which the springs arecompressed, on release of the lever 12 by the user, the lever willreturn to the raised position under the bias of the springs. In onepreferred gearing arrangement, during movement of the lever 12 from thelower position to the upper position as under the influence of springs,the first gear is preferably mechanically disconnected from thegenerator 120 as by a one way clutch arrangement. In a second preferredgearing arrangement during movement of the lever 12 from the lowerposition to the upper position under the influence of springs, amechanical gearing connection is maintained between the first gear andthe generator 120 to harvest electrical energy from the movement of thelever 12. Such gearing arrangements are known to persons skilled in theart.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 13 to 16, the control module 52 as seen inFIG. 16 as secured to the rear of the chassis 130. Electrical wires 131deliver electrical power from the generator 120 to the control module52. Referring to FIG. 15, a bottle sensor 134 is provided. The bottlesensor 134 is schematically illustrated in a schematic cross-sectionalplan view in FIG. 17 as biased forwardly by a spring member 136 to anextended position shown in FIG. 15. On a bottle 35 being coupled to thedispenser 10, a rear wall of the bottle 35 engages the bottle sensor 134and urges the bottle sensor 134 rearwardly against the bias of thespring member 136. The forward and rearward movement of the bottlesensor 136 opens and closes an electrical switch 137 providing a signalto the control module 52 indicative of whether or not a bottle 35 iscoupled to the dispenser 10.

As also seen in FIG. 15, on the front of the chassis 130 above thesupport ledge 39 on either side, there are provided angled surfaces 140and 141. On the surface 140 an infrared emitter 142 is provided and onthe surface 141, an infrared sensor 143 is provided. This emitter 142and sensor 143 provide a level sensing mechanism which is adapted tosense the level of fluid in the bottle 35 and to provide a signal to thecontrol module 52 indicative of whether or not the level of fluid in thebottle is above or below the height of the sensor 143.

As seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, a transparent window 145 is provided throughthe side wall 18 of the housing 16. Disposed on the chassis 130 insidethis window 145 are a series of LED lights 146, 147 and 148 as best seenin FIG. 16. Each light is preferably capable if emitting light ofdifferent colors, preferably green, or yellow or red, and capable ofbeing illuminated continuously or to flash intermittently. The lamps arepreferably controlled by the control module 52 to provide visual signalsto users as to the condition of the dispenser. One of the lights can,for example, emit, green, yellow or red light as, for example, toindicate that a level of contamination sensed by the sensor is,respectively acceptable, moderate or unacceptable. The lamps can alsoprovide signals indicating that the bottle is empty of fluid or thatthere is some other malfunction or that the dispenser is operational.

In the second embodiment of FIGS. 13 to 16, in addition to the lightswhich indicate the status of the dispenser, a speaker indicated as 170may be provided connected to the control module and adapted to beactivated so as to provide, for example, spoken signals or direction toa user of the dispenser or a person replacing the bottle and/or sensorand/or warnings at different levels depending upon the status of thedispenser and the level of contaminant sensed.

FIG. 13 illustrates a bottle 35 as coupled to the dispenser which bottleis substantially of the type illustrated in FIG. 9, that is, with asensor 50 carried on the front face of the bottle and coupled to thecontrol module 52 either in a wired manner as illustrated in FIG. 4 or12 or an unwired manner as in FIG. 9.

A dispenser in accordance with the present invention in the preferredembodiments illustrated comprises a manually operated dispenser.However, dispensers for use in accordance with the present invention arenot so limited. A dispenser need not be manually activated. A dispensermay include an electronically activated dispenser in which, for example,dispensing of fluid is activated automatically by a sensor sensing thepresence of a user's hand underneath a dispensing outlet. Such automaticdispensers which are preferably touchless include a control module fortheir operation and, in accordance with the present invention, a sensorwould be provided on the dispenser to sense contaminants. The sensor maypreferably communicate in a wired or wireless manner with the controlmodule in the automatic dispenser or, as described alternatively,communicate directly with a wireless hub.

Reference is made to FIG. 18 which illustrates a touchless dispenser ofthe type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,980,421 to Ophardt et al. issuedJul. 19, 2011, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference, and which dispenser 10 has been modified merely to show acontaminant sensor 50 provided on a downwardly directed surface 200proximate the discharge outlet 201 for fluid from the dispenser 10. Ofcourse, additional contaminant sensors 50 may be provided at differentlocations on such a dispenser. In a known manner, hand sensors 203 sensea person's hand below the nozzle 13 and actuate a pump (not shown) todischarge fluid from a fluid reservoir 35.

One preferred sensor for use in accordance with the present invention isa sensor which has a relatively limited lifetime over which the sensoris effective to sense a contaminant as, for example, with the sensoroperative such that once a certain quantity of contaminants come toengage the surface of the sensor, the sensor is no longer operative toindicate changes in level of contamination. A preferred sensor 50 foruse in the present invention may have a contaminant sensing mechanism 73as seem in FIG. 19 which comprises a circuit board 159 plurality ofindividual sensing areas or elements 160. Each individual sensingelement 160 is each adapted to be independently electrically connectedto the control module 52 via wires 165 and activated. The control module52 is schematically shown in FIG. 17 in dashed lines. Each sensingelement 160 has a separate release member 80 covering it and preventingengagement of contaminants with the sensing element 160 until therelease member 80 is removed. In FIG. 17, an electrical heating elementis provided underneath each sensing element 160 on the circuit board 159with the electrical heating element electrically connected to thecontrol module 52. For ease of illustration but one such electricalheating element 162 is shown in dashed lines with its connecting wiresshown as 163. Each release member 80 is a sheet of material which isvolatile when heated above room temperature. The control module 52 iscapable of providing electrical energy to each heating element 162 toheat the release member 80 and have it sublimate and dissipate so thatthe underlying sensing element 160 is initially activated to receivecontaminants. The control module 52 is to heat the heating element 162for each of the individual sensing elements 160 at times when desired,preferably activating different of the individual sensing elements 160at different desired times as, for example, in sequence over a period oftime.

Other systems for time delayed and time staggered activation of theindividual sensing elements 160 include the use of volatile releasemembers 80 which at room temperature sublimate with time and which areprovided to be of different initial thicknesses over different of theindividual sensing elements 160, or of materials which dissipate atdifferent rates over of the individual sensing elements, so as toprovide for different of the individual sensing elements become open toreceive contaminants at different times. Preferably, with the controlmodule 52 can determine the time when each of the individual sensingelements 160 are initially activated.

The individual sensing elements 160 can be relatively small, forexample, of dimensions to provide a surface area of less than 1 squarecm, more preferably less than 0.5 square cm, which assist in alsoproviding for each sensor 50 to also be relatively small. Preferredindividual sensing elements 160 and other portions of a sensor 50 may beprinted by various techniques such as to become OLED circuits as printedon a thin film such as on PET film. Such small sized individual sensingelements 160 and sensors 50 may be adapted as, for example, for locationon relatively small sized areas as on the lever 12 or on the nozzle 13shown in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 13 which may, for example,comprise tubular members of a diameter in the range of not greater thanabout ¼ inch.

A dispenser in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention iscapable of providing information as to the level of contaminant sensedby the dispenser over a period of time. The dispenser also has thecapability for providing information as to the time when a bottle isreplaced, the time when the bottle is empty and the number ofactivations of the pump. The number of activations of the pump canreadily be sensed by sensing when power is provided from the generator120 to the control module 52. As a result of this information, the levelof activity of the dispenser can be known. The level of activity of thedispenser has a correlation to the number of times persons activate thedispenser to dispense fluid. The number of activations of a dispenserover time can be another factor to be used in comparing the dispenserand level of contaminants in any dispenser or group of dispensers withinan array to any other dispenser or group of dispensers within the array.

Information can be provided to a central server as to a specificlocation of any dispenser within a facility. Historical informationabout any dispensers at that same or proximate location includinginformation about contaminant levels and activation levels can be usefulin determining thresholds for comparing contamination levels of anyparticular dispenser or group of dispensers.

Of contaminants which may be adapted to be sensed by the sensors 50 onthe dispensers 10, some contaminants may be airborne and othercontaminants may be carried by persons as on their hands. The nature ofthe contaminant to be sensed can be a factor in determining where tolocate the sensor on a dispenser. The nature of the contaminant to besensed can also have a determination as to whether or not the number ofactivations is a significant factor in assessing levels of a contaminantwith time at any particular dispenser. Preferably, contaminants whichare carried as, for example, on a user's hand will be placed on adispenser at a location where the sensor is likely to be contacted by auser's hand. Dispensers which are adapted to sense airborne contaminantsmay be located at different locations on the dispenser remote frompossible contact by a user.

Reference is made to FIG. 20 which shows an embodiment of a soapdispenser 10 of the present invention similar to that shown in FIG. 3but in which a sensor 50 is provided on the bottom 38 of a bottle 35 soas to be located forwardly from the support ledge 39. An air fan 170 isprovided to be secured to the back of the dispenser 10 underneath thesupport ledge 39 so as to blow air onto the sensor 50. The fan 170 iselectrically powered and controlled by the control module 52 (notshown). The fan 170 may direct air onto the sensor 50 continuously ormore preferably periodically for short intervals from time to timeduring the useful life of the sensor 50. In this manner, in a controlledmanner, the sensor 50 may engage with air from about the dispenser 10and more accurately provide for sensing of airborne contaminants.

As to the particular nature of the contaminants which the sensor 50 maysense, this is not limited. A most preferred application is the use ofthe sensors as in hospitals, food facilities, restaurants and the liketo sense biologic contaminants such as bacteria, micro-organisms,viruses, fungi, molds, spores and signalling molecules or other productsor by-products of bacterial, micro-organisms, fungi and molds. However,the sensors may also be adapted to sense other contaminants such as therelative levels of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, oxone, oxygen,nitrogen, natural gas and other gases. The sensors may also sense forsmoke as by sensing carbon particles that may be airborne residue of afire. The particular nature of the contaminants to be sensed is notlimited. The sensors may also be used to sense other variables such astemperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and light and noise levels.

The particular nature of the sensors to be used is not limited. Thesensor may be a direct sensor or an indirect sensor. A direct sensorwould provide a signal as to levels of contamination is preferred.Preferred direct sensors are electronic with a sensor identifying thepresence of a contaminant on its surface and providing for an electronicsignal. Such sensors are well known and include biosensors as applied tobiochips. The biosensor is a device that includes a biologicalrecognition system, often called a bioreceptor, and a transducer. Theinteraction of an analyte with the biosensor is designed to produce aneffect measured by the transducer, which converts the information into ameasurable effect, such as an electrical signal. The biosensor typicallyincludes associated electronics or signal processors that are primarilyresponsible for the display of results in a user friendly manner.Biosensors that include transducers based on integrated circuitmicrochips are often referred to as biochips. A biochip typicallyincludes one or more in biosensors that can be individually monitored.Biosensors and biochips can be classified either by their bioreceptor ortheir transducer type. A bioreceptor typically is a sensitive biologicalelement, a biologically derived material or a biomic material such as abiological molecular species or a living system or biologic material,for example tissue, micro-organism, organelles, cell receptors, enzymes,antibodies, nucleic acids, etc, that utilizes a biochemical mechanismfor recognition. The sampling component of a biosensor can contain abio-sensitive layer. The bioreceptors are the key to specificity forbiosensors as they are responsible for the analyte of interest to thesensor for measurement. Biosensors can take many forms, however, includefive major categories: antibody/antigen, enzymes, nucleic acids/DNa,cellular structures/cells and biomimetic. Biosensors can also beclassified based upon the transduction method. Transduction can beaccomplished by a great many methods. Most forms of transduction can becategorized into one of the following classes; optical detectionmethods, electrochemical detection methods and mass deduction methods.Each of these three classes contain many different subclasses. Anindirect sensor may also be used. An example of an indirect sensor isshown in FIG. 21 which is similar to FIG. 3. FIG. 21 illustrates in aside view similar to FIG. 3, a component of sensor 50 in the form of anindicator sheet 180 removably secured to the bottom 38 of the bottle 35.The indicator sheet 180 is a sheet material whose color changes as acontaminant comes to engage the sheet. The sheet 180 may, for example,be of an initial colour such as white and will change successfully fromwhite to another colour such as, for example, a deep red whencontaminant has come into contact with the sheet. The sheet 180preferably changes gradually in colour from white to red passing, forexample, through white, red or pink colours before it reaches a deep redcolour. The extent to which the colour red is displayed by the sheet 180is indicative of the level of contaminants that have cumulativelyengaged the sheet 180.

Mounted on the dispenser 10, as carried by a flange 181 secured to theback of the dispenser housing 16 below the support ledge 39, there isprovided an optical sensing element 182 directed to be in opposition tothe sheet 180. The optical sensing element 182 is an electronic elementwhich has a capability of sensing the colour of the sheet. The opticalsensing element 182 is electrically controlled and connected to thecontrol module 52 not shown. The optical sensing element 182 monitorsthe colour of the sheet and provides suitable signals indicating thecolour of the sheet and thus a representation of the level ofcontaminants sensed. The indicator sheet 180 may have a lifetime untilthe cumulative contaminants engaged on it turn its colour to a deep red.The indicator sheet may be provided at various locations on thedispenser 10 or on the bottle 35 and can be removed and replaced.

If it is desired to protect any sensor, whether direct or indirect, fromdamage by contact with a person using the dispenser or fluids dispensed,the sensor can be provided at a protected location as, for example, inthe middle of a rear wall of the bottle 35 and, if advantageous, have aair fan 170, for example, similar to that shown in FIG. 19, direct airflow over the sensor 50 towards providing air from the environment incontrolled contact with the sensor.

A variety of contaminant sensors may be used in accordance with thepresent invention without limitation including, magnetoelastic,microelectromechanical microphysiometer, nanowire, waveguide, liquidcrystal, distributed dust or DNA bridge sensors. A description of eachis provided in this paragraph; however, more detailed information ofeach is readily available in the open literature. A magnetoelasticsensor monitors a change in resonance of a tuned magnetoelastic stripwhich has been coated with an antibody of the analyte to be detected.The antibodies on the surface of the magnetoelastic strip bond with theanalyte when present, changing the mass, and consequently, the resonantfrequency of the element which change in mass can be detected to issue asignal. To detect multiple toxins, multiple individual strips may becoated with respective antibodies, ganged together and monitored by acommon computer chip for issuing signals. A microelectromechanicalsensor monitors changes in the resonance of a spring-mass with a smallcantilever beam coated with an antibody of the analyte to be detected tocapture a small mass of analyte to effect a change in mass, and,consequently, the resonant frequency of the cantilever beam. Amicrophysiometer sensor employs live human cells that have been adaptedto react quickly to biological agents in the environment. These cellsare disposed atop sensors that detect abnormalities in cell structure.Nanowire or DNA bridge sensors employ strings of DNA disposed in orcompleting an electrical circuit which changes conductivity orresistance as receptors in the DNA molecule accept or combine with otherDNA molecules. These DNA strings can be adapted to receive or combinewith analyte DNA to detect and issue an alert signal. Waveguide sensorsemploy a coating of antibodies which are disposed on a sensor surfaceand selected to target specific analytes such as bacteria cells. Whenthe antibodies come into contact with these bacteria, the antibodiesattack and destroy the bacteria and a light source is used to illuminatethe changes. As the antibodies destroy the bacteria, the sensor surfacedetects the changes allowing the bacteria to be identified. Liquidcrystal sensors employ cell membranes disposed atop rod-shaped liquidcrystals to detect analytes. For example, lipids are attached to theliquid crystals, which lay perpendicular to the surface and appear dark.When the sensor is exposed to a protein that binds to the lipids, theliquid crystal molecules rapidly respond by switching to a planarorientation. As a result, the crystals transmit polarized light andappear bright. The change in illumination can be detected to issue analert signal. Distributed dust sensors employ micrometer size particleswhich change color in the presence of contaminate. For example eachparticle can exhibit different colors depending upon its orientationsuch that when attaching to a particular contaminate, the particlescollectively yield a characteristic optical signature. The change inoptical signature can be detected to issue a signal. Immunoassay sensorsemploy reactive materials which change color or contrast in the presenceof an analyte. A sensor can includes a white absorptive stick coatedwith the reactive material which, upon contaminant exposure, effects acolor change.

The contaminant sensor provides an electrical output or switch closure,or changes in color, contrast or other physical characteristics can beconverted to an electrical output/switch closure by conventionalphotoelectric or optical devices.

Each dispenser as illustrated in the embodiments of FIG. 1, FIG. 13 andFIG. 18 are adapted for dispensing fluids as, for example, on the handof a user. The particular nature of the fluid which may be dispensed isnot limited. The fluid typically is dispensed as a liquid or as a foam.The invention is applicable to fluid dispensers of virtually any manneror configuration in which a user has some interaction with the dispenserand there is an opportunity for interaction between the user and thedispenser or the environment about the dispenser. As to the particularnature of the fluid to be dispensed, these may include soaps such asaqueous based soaps and other cleaning fluids such as alcohol basedcleaners and disinfectants. The units may be used in various differentareas in a facility such as in common public areas in a hospital, onpatient wards with or without restricted access and in areas which mustbe kept highly sanitized such as in operating rooms and rooms forpreparation and cleaning before entering operating rooms.

While FIGS. 1, 13 and 21 illustrate but three forms of fluid dispensers,many fluid dispensers fall within the scope of the present inventionincluding foot washers as are known for dispensing fluid onto the footof a user as, for example, by spraying a fluid onto a foot of a user onactivation of a user to dispense the fluid by the foot being sprayed.

The preferred dispenser as shown in FIGS. 1 and 13 are adapted forengagement by a user's hand to activate the dispensing of fluid.Dispensers are known which are adapted for activation by engagement byother parts of a user such as a user's elbow or foot. Some fluiddispensers are activated by a user pushing a button to electricallyoperate a pump. All such dispensers are included within the scope of thepresent invention.

Many paper dispensers are known as for use in washrooms, health carefacilities and the like in which a user activates the dispenser so as todispense paper products typically in rolls or sheets to the user. Suchpaper dispensers include dispensers which may have a lever handle forengagement by a user, for example, to rotate a roll of paper and providea portion of the paper accessible for a user to tear off. Other paperdispensers are automatic and touchless and sense the presence of a user,hence, dispensing a portion of the paper as for drying a user's hands.Other paper dispensers dispense toilet paper as found beside or near atoilet and typically require a user to manually engage the end of thepaper and draw the paper from a paper dispenser whether the paper may bein the form of a roll or the form in sheets. In each of thesedispensers, there is an opportunity for a user to engage portions of thedispenser and there are surfaces on the dispenser where contaminationmay occur. With each of these paper dispensers as is the case with fluiddispensers, the paper is a replaceable personal product and needs to bereplaced periodically. In the case of a paper dispenser dispensingpapers on rolls, the roll of paper comprises a replaceable cartridgewhich must be replaced from time to time. As is the case with a fluiddispenser, at the time of replacing a replaceable cartridge in a paperdispenser, a removable and replaceable sensor may be provided with thepaper cartridge such that each time a replaceable paper cartridge isprovided a new sensor is provided for the paper dispenser. As with thefluid dispensers, the sensor provided with the cartridge is adapted tobe located open to an environment in which contaminants may be desiredto be sensed as by maintaining this position on the cartridge whilebeing gathered to the cartridge for coupling to the dispenser or beingremovable from the cartridge for coupling to the dispenser.

The fluid dispensers in accordance with the present invention are morepreferably fluid dispensers for dispensing cleaning and disinfectingsolutions and, more particularly, those adapted for cleaning a user'shands. Similarly, a paper towel dispenser to which the invention mostdirectly relates are those adapted to be provided in an environmentwhere a person's hands are desired or expected to have been cleaned as,for example, notably in washrooms and in health care and foodpreparatory facilities.

Reference is made to FIG. 22 which illustrates a collage of elementswhich may be found within the facility schematically illustrated as 100.These elements include the following: (a) dispensers 10 for dispensingfluid onto a user's hands, (b) a paper towel dispenser 202 fordispensing paper towels 203 from a horizontally disposed roll of paperschematically illustrated in dashed lines as 204 within a closed housing205 carrying a lever arm 206 for operation to dispenser the paper 203,(c) a toilet paper dispenser 208 having a replaceable roll of paper 209mounted as for rotation at least partially covered by a housing 211; (d)a foot spray dispenser 212 typically mounted approximate to a floor andhaving a housing 213 carrying a replaceable reservoir therein and fromwhich fluid is adapted to be dispensed as in a spray nozzle 214 by auser engaging a lever 215 with his foot, (e) a sink 216 having a faucet217 for dispensing of fluid and activated by two levered handles 218 and219, (f) a toilet 220 having a handle 221 which can be manually engagedfor flushing, (g) a urinal 222 having a push button 223 for engagementby a user for flushing, (h) a wall mounted air blowing hand dryer 224for dispensing of a flow of air out of an enlarged nozzle tube 225 andadapted, for example, for activation by a push button 226, (i) an accessdoor 228 for providing access to an area in a building or to a bathroomstall and adapted to be opened and closed by manual engagement of a doorhandle 229, (j) a grab bar 232 adapted to be engaged to a wall toprovide for assistance in a user in standing or sitting as adjacent tothe toilet shown, and (k) a handrail 234 adapted to be mounted adjacenta wall for engagement by a user for guiding a user in movement along awall and to assist in supporting a user by engagement by a user's hand,which handrail may also be adapted for placement along or beside one ormore stairs. Each of these elements carries a sensor 50 in accordancewith the present invention.

Each of the dispenser 10, the paper towel dispenser 202, the toiletpaper dispenser 208 and the foot spray dispenser 212 dispense a personalproduct which product needs to be replaced from time to time andtypically is replaceable as in the form of a reservoir or cartridge. Inaccordance with the present invention, each of the fluid dispenser,paper towel dispenser, toilet paper dispenser and foot spray dispensercarry a contaminant sensor 50 in accordance with the present inventionpreferably which is provided with and replaced with the replaceablereservoir or cartridge. In accordance with the present invention,wireless contaminant sensors 50 are provided on other of these elementsin the facility 100 facility, and preferably on any other elements whichare reasonably to be expected to be engaged by users, preferably wherethey may be expected to be engaged users. Thus sensors 50 schematicallyindicated by arrows to be provided on each of the handles 218 and 219for the sink 216, the toilet handle 221, the urinal push button 223, thedryer push button 226, the door handle 229, the grab bar 232 and thehandrail 234.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wirelesssensors 50 which are provided on many of the elements may be providedwith communication capability for relative limited distance such as, forexample, no greater than 4 or 8 or 16 feet, preferably within the sameroom without capability of passage through walls of the facility.Wireless sensors with such limited range communication may be providedwithin the range of communication with another element which serves as amessage collector. The message collector could be merely a wirelessrouter, however, preferably may comprise another of the elements such aspreferably one of the fluid dispensers 10 or one of the paperdispensers. The dispenser 10 which preferably also serves as the messagecollector preferably has increased communication capabilities forsending information as to the Internet.

The particular manner and control of any of the sensors 50 shown on theelements in the collage of FIG. 22 is not limited. One preferred flowdiagram of a second arrangement for monitoring and control of the sensorcarrying elements of FIG. 22 is illustrated in FIG. 23. FIG. 23illustrates schematically a plurality of the sensor carrying elements asshown in FIG. 22 adapted to communicate wirelessly via a WLAN 302 to amessage collector 310 comprising preferably a particular one of thedispensers 10. This message collecting dispenser 310 is shown as adaptedfor communication with the Internet 304 as preferably wirelessly. Fromthe Internet 304, information may be passed to a data processing module306 which typically would comprise a web tier of servers 308 whichcommunicate with a data tier of servers 309. The web tier of servers 308typically delivers information through web pages, receive userinformation to be processed, provides web services for multiplexer useand for reporting to the facility manager, generates alerts andnotifications and typically is expandable. The data tier server 309provides a central data storage. A facility manager 312 is shown asschematically illustrated as an individual person 314 at a computer 316.The facility manager 312 is able to communicate with the messagecollector 310 and, as well, with the data processing web tier 308 anddata tier 309 via the Internet 304. The facility manager 312 has thecapability, for example, of reviewing reports, managing all master data,and, as well, of registering each of the dispensers 10 and configuringthe dispensers 10. As shown in FIG. 23, there is one dispenser 10 shownas connected to the facility manager computer 316 as for initialdispenser configuration via a USB before that dispenser may be placed atits desired location in the facility. FIG. 23 shows the facility manager312 as also having the capability of communicating with a facilitydatabase 318 which may include various information from a facility as,for example, in the case of a hospital, data regarding operations,occupancy, infection incidents and the like.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, thedispensers 10 and other elements which have sensors preferably do notincorporate batteries which require frequent replacement. The inventorof the present application has appreciated that in many facilities suchas hospitals there are thousands of such dispensers and avoiding theneed for battery replacement can significantly reduce the costs ofoperation. As such, a preferred arrangement is to provide the dispensers10 to have a capability of generating through use the energy requiredfor operation of the dispenser. In a configuration as illustrated inFIG. 23, the individual dispensers 10 with limited communicationcapability may preferably comprise a dispenser 10 of the typeillustrated in FIG. 16 which incorporates a generator which generatesenergy on manual movement of the lever to dispense fluid. The energynecessary to be generated can be merely the energy necessary forrelaying from time to time information from that dispenser 10 to themessage collector 310. In dispensers 10 with a generator such as shownin FIG. 16 require for their operation some energy to take readings asto maintain a time clock and to store data based on time as to theactivation of the dispenser, the amount of energy created and, if acontaminant sensor is provided, the reading of the contaminant sensor.Such data can be stored within the individual dispenser 10. Dependingupon the amount of energy which may be stored at any given time and thepower of storage for the dispenser of FIG. 16, the control nodule 52 ofthat dispenser 10 can then determine how frequently the storedinformation is to be relayed to the message collector. The amount ofenergy required for communication between the individual dispenser 10and the message collector 310 including two-way communication toinitialize and ensure there is proper communication generally is agreater amount of energy than that required for mere sensing and storageof information in the collecting dispenser 10. The frequency with whichinformation may be transferred from the collecting dispenser to themessage collector is preferably controlled by the controller in thecollecting dispenser 10 is as to be a function of the amount of energyat any time within the power storage device in the collecting dispenser.For example, if the power storage device has energy above a first level,the information transferral may be every five minutes or, for example,every fifteen activations. If the power level in the storage device isbelow a given level, then the information transferral may be lessfrequent as, for example, every one, two, six or twelve hours.Information transfer would, for example, not be permitted to occur whenthe power level may fall below any particularly low limit. Thus, inaccordance with the present invention, there is provided an improvedarrangement for optimizing power consumption between a collectingdispenser and a message collector in which the frequency ofcommunication of data from the collecting dispenser to the messagedispenser is varied as a function of the power contained within arechargeable power source in the collecting dispenser so as to reducethe frequency of information transferral as the power level decreases.This arrangement is useful whether or not a contaminant sensor 50 isprovided on any dispenser.

The message collector 310 preferably is a dispenser which has with highprobability an adequate availability of electrical power in its powerstorage device. Thus in an arrangement where a plurality of gatheringdispensers 10 or other devices are provided for communicating theirinformation to a message collector 310, the message collector 310preferably has an increased and preferably continuous availability ofpower as, for example, by providing the message collector 310 to behardwired to an A/C power system or, to have adequate replaceablebatteries or, more preferably, to have a constant supply of renewablepower. The constant supply of renewable power may be provided as by asolar panel, that is, a charging device which creates electrical energyfrom light and could, for example, have adequate capacity to providepower needs to the message controller for constant 24 hour operationbased on the light it may receive. Another preferred element for use asthe message collector is a fluid dispenser which incorporates anelectrochemical cell to produce electric energy by chemical conversionof the fluid to be dispensed of the type disclosed, for example, in U.S.Pat. No. 7,530,477 to Ophardt, issued May 12, 2009, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference. In FIG. 23, the messagecollector 310 preferably is such a combination fluid dispenser andelectrochemical cell as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,530,477. With sucha dispenser as the message collector 310, the fuel cell within thedispenser can produce electrical energy with time almost continuouslyand, in any event, periodically in amounts sufficient to provide energyfor the constant operation of the message collector to monitor forincoming data from the plurality of other dispensers and devices whichare attempting to communicate periodically via the WLAN 302 wirelessly.That is, in the message connector 310 dispenser which incorporates anelectrochemical cell to produce electrical energy, the fluid which is tobe dispensed for use as for cleaning hands, is also used as a source forelectrochemical energy as by containing alcohol compounds that can in afuel cell be converted to electrical energy for storage in a powerstorage device in the message collector dispenser. Thus, in a collage ofelements such as illustrated in FIG. 22, one of the dispensers 10 maycomprise a combination liquid dispenser and electrochemical cell whichmay serve as the message collector 310 and provide renewable energyduring the time that its reservoir contains fluid to be dispensed. Inaccordance with the present invention, there is provided a novelarrangement comprising an array of fluid dispensers and other deviceswhich collect and gather data and which communicate wirelesslyperiodically over short distances with the message collector which hasenhanced power generation capability and is adapted for communicationwith other elements within a data distribution network such as to theinternet 304 and facility manager 312 as seen in FIG. 22. Sucharrangement is useful whether or not any contaminant sensors areincluded.

As seen in FIG. 16, the dispenser of the second embodiment has UBS porton its control module by which it may be connected with devices such asa computer of a facility manager 312 for configuration of the dispenseras may be desired, for example, initially or subsequently. After initialconfiguration, the dispenser 10 may preferably have the capability forbeing configured wirelessly and remotely. The control module 52 of thedispenser 10, particularly when it is a gathering dispenser with minimalpower generation and storage capability preferably performs butminimalistic processing and its control module 52 may preferably beadapted for configuration wirelessly from time to time as may be desiredby the facility manager 312. Similarly, the message collector 310preferably is another dispenser 10 which may also be adapted forreconfiguration as by downloading of software from time to timepreferably wirelessly as by the facility manager 312.

In FIG. 23, a portable wireless communication device such as a personaldigital assistant or a smart phone 320 is illustrated as wirelesscommunicating with the facility manager 312, the message collector 310and the Internet 304. Such a smart phone 320 or other portable devicemay be carried by personnel for facility to permit timely transfer ofmatter about any particular of the sensing elements. In an arrangementmore simplified than that illustrated in FIG. 23, the message collector312 could communicate merely with the phone 320 and provide in arelatively smaller facility having, for example, possibly ten or twentysensing elements a simplified arrangement for a person having the phone320 as an intelligent portable communication device to be able toreadily monitor activity of a number of dispensers 10 or other elements.In FIG. 22, each of the dispensers, including the liquid dispenser 10and paper towel dispensers 202 may be provided with means of generatingpower as, for example, by having a power generator coupled to a manuallyactivated lever which needs to be moved to dispense fluid. Other of theelements in the collage could similarly be provided to have powergenerators. For example, the door handle 229 could have an internalgenerator and thus be self powered such as in the manner of thatdisclosed in U.S. Patent Publication US 2010/0140499 to Casale,published on Jun. 10, 2010. On movement of the door handle 229 to openthe door, the movement of the door handle 229 is translated by agenerator to create power and this power can be used to power thewireless sensor 50 on the door.

The manner in which the data gathered from contaminant sensors is used,monitored and manipulated by the facility manager and the dataprocessing unit is not limited. As discussed earlier in thisapplication, thresholds may be established as to contamination levelsfor various contaminants which can be used to generate warnings and thelike. However, there is no need to compare any data to thresholds. Dataprovided from the system can provide to the facility manager a recordwith time as to different contaminant levels at different locations in afacility. Those contaminant levels may be grouped as by time or by areasof the facility and the like. The contaminant levels provide thefacility manager with a real time indication of matters which are beingsensed. It is within the skill of persons skilled in the art to developmonitoring techniques to review trends and changes in the data towardsidentifying where difficulties and problems may arise. Such changes maybe used towards providing early warnings of problems or possibleproblems. As but one example, if there might be an outbreak of aparticular bacterial disease at a home for elderly people proximate to ahospital, the hospital may track the admission and presence of personsfrom that old age home in the hospital with a view to monitoring changesin levels of specific contaminants within specific areas of the hospitalas an indication that contaminants may have been brought in with thepersons from the old age home and counter-measure steps may be taken. Inanother example, outbreaks of influenza can be tracked on variousInternet databases monitoring various factors from the population as awhole such as drug purchases, absenteeism and the like. Such data can becombined with data gathered from the sensors at a facility towardsincreased monitoring for particular contaminants or to reacting morequickly upon changes in the levels of certain specific contaminantssensed.

The present invention provides a community of sensors and can use groupbehaviour strategies to identify various signals and device malfunction.A wide array of dispensers and other elements carrying sensors providesa widely distributed sensor network.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method oflarge scale bio-sensing using the preferred sensor carrying dispensersand other sensor carrying elements in accordance with the presentinvention. In accordance with the present invention, three factors areof particular usefulness, these factors being the time of insertion of areplaceable bottle or cartridge in a dispenser, the usage by people ofthat dispenser with time and the level of a biologic contaminant on thesensor at the dispenser with time as, for example, giving a bacterialcount. The three factors represented over time of the insertion of areservoir, the usage of a dispenser and the bacterial levels on adispenser with time provide a foundation towards determining thehygienic status of any health care facility. The particular nature ofthe data gathered from a large array of dispensers and other sensingelements within a facility is provided in conjunction with a networkframework for collecting, filtering and processing large volumes of realtime data. Data is provided from a large number of data sourcesproviding the live network data. This mining of rich real time dataprovides a system which can be used to understand the network'soperation and, as well, to detect anomalies in the data and the like.

As one means of communication of a signal from a sensor 50, a RFIDsystem may be used comprising a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)device in combination with an RFID reader to pass on a signal as tofacility operators. The RFID device can be active, passive or a hybridthereof A passive RFID device includes an antenna to capture sufficientenergy from a surrounding electromagnetic field to power the RFIDdevice. The antenna is electrically connected to an electronic chipwhich performs the various pre-programmed RFID functions. An RFID readerused in conjunction with passive RFID devices generates anelectromagnetic field of sufficient intensity or magnetic flux to powerthe RFID device 20 when the RFID device is proximal to a reader. Forexample, known RFID readers 30 can produce a field such that a RFIDdevice located can be energized and interrogated by the RFID reader atdistances of up to at least ten feet. An active RFID device includes anenergy source such as an embedded battery for the energy to transmitsignals to the RFID reader. Hybrid RFID devices have characteristics ofboth passive and active devices inasmuch as such devices capture energyfrom a surrounding electromagnetic field but also employ a batteryimprove range of communication.

Reference is made to FIG. 24 which shows a sensor arrangement comprisinga wireless sensor 50 and a control unit 52 similar to that shown in FIG.9 but using RFID technology. The sensor 50 includes as at least part ofits processor 75 a RFID transponder 361. A RFID reader or transceiver362 is provided as part of the control unit 52. On the sensor 50, theprocessor 75 and its RFID transponder 361 are shown connected to aplurality of different contaminant sensing mechanisms 73 and to anantenna 259. The wireless sensor 50 is preferably is manufactured as byprinting its various elements onto a flexible substrate 363. Selectingthe RFID transponder to be a passive RFID transponder without a batteryassists in ease of manufacture. Preferably, each of the processor 75,the antenna 78 and the sensor processor 75 may be printed directly ontoa flexible substrate as by inkjet printing techniques, however, if thisis not possible for any one of the components then, for example, one ormore of the components such as the sensing mechanism 73 and sensorprocessor 75 may be manufactured by another process and integrated ontothe flexible substrate 363. The substrate may preferably comprise aflexible substrate such as polymers of PET, PEN and PI and on flexiblefoils and laminates.

In the context of FIGS. 22 and 23, the RFID wireless sensor 50 of FIG.24 may be provided as the sensor on any one of the elements in FIG. 22such as the handrail and the toilet handle, and the control unit 52 maybe provided for example on the message collector 310, For each dispenser10 the RFID wireless sensor 50 may be provided on a removable reservoirand the control unit 52 on the dispenser housing. The RFID transceiveror reader can be adapted to communicate with various devices including aprocessor in the dispenser, another dispenser which acts as a messagecollector, a router, the Internet or correctly with the facilitymanager.

As an example of a type of biosensor which could be adapted for use asone or more of the sensors 50 in accordance with the present inventionis the biosensor disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,651,843 to Stubbs et al,issued Jan. 26, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference. Stubbs discloses an acoustical wave biosensor adapted toidentify bacteria, micro-organisms or plants in a liquid or gaseousmedium in which the bacteria, micro-organisms or plants are of a kindwhich produce signalling molecules in a vapour space or liquid about thesubject species within an environment. Stubbs teaches an acoustical wavebiosensor positioned to sense vapour for the signalling chemical withingas in the environment or sense the signalling chemical within a liquidforming the environment and in each case to perform a real timeevaluation of the presence of the signalling chemicals. The above-notedpatent to Stubbs teaches the use of an acoustical wave biosensor usefulfor determining the presence of bacteria in real time from gas or liquidmedium and teaches, for example, real time detection of Bacillus relatedspecies including, for example, air borne micro-organisms such asBacillus subtilis. The acoustical wave biosensor may be an RFID typesensor as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,053,524 to Edmonson et al, issuedMay 30, 2006, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference.

The nature of the wireless sensor for use with the present invention isnot limited. However toward providing low cost sensors, the use ofrelatively inexpensive plastic or foil substrates and low cost printingmethods are preferred manners of manufacture.

Reference is made to FIGS. 25, 26 and 27 which illustrate a fifthembodiment of a dispenser in accordance with the present invention inwhich the dispenser 10 is identical to that disclosed in the firstembodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 with the exceptions of, firstly, theinclusion of a dip tray 204 provided below the dispenser outlet nozzle13 and with the contaminant sensor 50 carried by the drip tray 204. Asshown, the dip tray 204 is removably supported vertically below thenozzle 13. In use, fluid is dispensed onto a user's hand below thenozzle 13 and fluid may drip from the user's hand downwardly. The driptray 204 is provided to catch such dripping fluid and prevent it fromdripping onto the floor or a countertop or other surface underneath thedispenser 10. Oftentimes, a user will, after dispensing fluid onto onehand disposed below the nozzle 13, then rub the user's hands togetherbelow the nozzle 11 above the drip tray 204 such that fluid drippingfrom the hands during dispensing and rubbing is caught in the drip tray204. Such drip trays 204 are particularly useful when the fluid issprayed as by a spray nozzle or missed from the nozzle 13 and where thefluid is a low viscosity fluid such as alcohol which can readily dripfrom a user's hand.

The drip tray 204 is shown as supported from the dispenser 10 via arigid support 208 formed from a rigid metal rod and having, as seen inFIG. 26, a vertically disposed rear loop 210 fixedly supporting ahorizontally disposed horizontal loop 212. The horizontal loop 212provides an opening sized to receive the drip tray 204 therein with anoutwardly extending lip 216 of the drip tray 204 extending outwardlyover the rod of the horizontal loop 214. A spring clip member 218extends from above the lip 216 of the drip tray 204 on one side underthe tray to the other side to securely bias the drip tray 204 downwardlyinto the loop 212. The spring clip member 218 is horizontally slidablerelative to the drip tray 204 and the horizontal loop 212 to permitremoval of the drip tray from the horizontal loop 212 as, for example,for cleaning or disposal of any fluid caught by the drip tray.

The vertical loop 212 has side members 220 that extend upwardly oneither side of the dispenser 10 and are joined by a horizontal topmember 222 coupled to the dispenser 10, preferably to the upper rear ofa wall plate 223 for the dispenser 10 for pivoting about a horizontalaxis through the top member 222 as can be of assistance to insert andremove the removable bottle 35. The drip tray has a bottom 224 fromwhich side walls 226 extend upwardly to form an internal well 228 tocatch fluid. The contaminant sensor 50 is carried on the drip tray 212so as to be in communication with fluid from the well 228. As seen inFIGS. 26 and 28, the sensor 50 is provided secured to the drip tray 204in the well 228 to the upper surface of the bottom 224 at a locationthat under gravity fluid in the drip tray 204 will come into engagementwith the sensor 50. Wires 53 are shown to extend from the sensor 50 tocouple the sensor 50 as to a control module (not shown) similar to thecontrol modular 52 and in a similar manner to that shown in the firstembodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6. The sensor 50 may have other configurationsas illustrated, for example, in FIG. 9 or as described and shown withother of the embodiments.

The sensor 50 carried by the drip tray 204 can sense contaminants in thefluid in the drip tray and thus provide an indication of contaminantswhich may have originated as on a person's hand using the drip tray orotherwise as, for example, on the nozzle 13 or which have come to be inthe fluid as by environmental air coming to engage fluid within the driptray. The particular nature of the sensor 50 carried by the drip tray204 is not limited, however, preferably, is a sensor 50 which is adaptedfor sensing contaminants within a liquid.

Reference is made to FIG. 28 which shows a cross-section through thedrip tray similar to that shown in FIG. 27, however, with the sensor 50shown as having a contaminant sensing mechanism 73 disposed at a lowpoint in a lower sump 229 of the well 228 of the drip tray 204 such thatany fluid in the drip tray 204 will necessarily be in communication withthe contaminant sensing mechanism 73 of the sensor 50. In the embodimentof FIG. 28, the sensor 50 is illustrated as being sealably engagedwithin an opening through the bottom 224 of the drip tray 204 under thesump 229 and thus can, for example, provide other components of thesensor 50 outside of the well 228 of the drip tray 204 and including thewires 53.

Reference is made to FIG. 29 which illustrates another cross-sectionthrough the drip tray similar to that shown in FIG. 28, however, showingan alternate arrangement of a sensor 50 in which the sensor 50 isschematically illustrated as including a passageway 230 in communicationwith the fluid in the well 228 via an inlet 231 and an outlet 232. Thesensor 50 is indicated as including a pump 233 to draw fluid from thewell via the inlet and discharge it by the outlet. A contaminant sensingmechanism 73 is schematically illustrated as being provided at alocation along the passageway 230 such that the sensor 50 effectivelysenses contaminants in the fluid drawn through the sensor 50. It is tobe appreciated that the pump may have an extremely low rate ofvolumetric flow and may be operated merely periodically.

Reference is made to FIG. 30 which illustrates another cross-sectionalview through the drip tray similar to FIG. 27, however, showing a catchtray 336 nestled over the trip tray 204 to overlie the trip tray 204.The catch tray 336 has a bottom 337 and sides 338 which extend up to alip 339 which overlies the lip 216 of the trip tray 204. The sensor 50is sealed in an opening through the bottom 337 of the catch tray 336.The sensor 50 has a passageway 230 therethrough with an inlet 231 opento the catch tray 336 and an outlet 232 which opens downwardly into thedrip tray 204. Fluid within the catch tray 336 under gravity will passthrough the passageway 230 of the sensor 50 and into the catch basin.Fluid passing through the passageway 230 comes into contact with thesensing mechanism 73 so as to sense contaminants in the fluid.

Reference is made to FIG. 31 which illustrates a sixth embodiment of adispenser in accordance with the present invention which comprises atouchless dispenser 10 including a drip tray 204. The dispenser 10 shownin FIG. 31 is a touchless version of a dispenser of the type shown inFIG. 1 in which hand sensors 235 are provided under the nozzle shield 27and adapted to activate an electric motor (not shown) to move a pistonpump (not shown) to dispense fluid out the nozzle 13 onto a user's hand.As contrasted with the embodiment of FIG. 26, in FIG. 31, the drip tray204 is located in closer proximity to the nozzle 13 underneath thenozzle 13 and provides a bowl-like containment well 228 supported on arigid support 208 from the dispenser. The drip tray 204 thus provides abowl-like well 228 of a diameter and depth to permit a user to locate auser's hand underneath the nozzle 13 above the drip tray 204 possibly atleast partially within the well 228 with sufficient room for both handsto receive fluid underneath the nozzle 13 and be rubbed togetherunderneath the nozzle 13 and above or within the drip tray 204 such thatsubstantially all errant spray from the nozzle 13 or dripping from auser's hands may be captured by the drip tray 204. The dispenser 10 isshown includes a lever 12 adapted to be manually moved by a user todispense fluid from the nozzle if the electric motor is not powered ornot working. The drip tray 214 is supported by the rigid support member208 which includes L-shaped side members 340 which extend fromunderneath the drip tray 204 rearwardly along the sides of the dispenser10 then upwardly to a top member which extends across the top of thedispenser 10.

In FIGS. 28 to 30, embodiments of the contaminant sensor 50 are shownwhich are not merely thin sheet members and in which provision is madefor movement of a liquid past the contaminant sensing mechanism 73 ofthe sensor 50. Dispensers with sensors which are to sense airbornecontaminants can similarly be provided with various mechanisms toprovide for movement of air from the environment about a dispenser intocontact with the contaminant sensing mechanism.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferredembodiments, many modifications and variations will now occur to personsskilled in the art. For a definition of the invention, reference is madeto the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. A method of monitoring a contaminant comprising a biologicpathogen or a product of the biologic pathogen signaling the presence ofthe pathogen in a facility comprising: providing at spaced locationsabout a facility, a plurality of fluid dispensers each adapted todispense a cleaning fluid onto a person's hands, dispensing with eachdispenser the fluid onto a person's hands to clean the persons hands,providing each dispenser with a housing, providing a plurality ofreservoirs with each reservoir containing a finite volume the fluid tobe dispensed and each reservoir capable of being removably coupled tothe housing for removal and replacement, providing a plurality ofsensors capable when activated to detect the presence and relative levelof the contaminant, for each dispenser: (a) coupling a first of thereservoirs to the housing, coupling a first of the sensors to thedispenser open to the environment about the dispenser and capable ofdetecting the presence and relative level of the contaminant, activatingthe first of the sensors to commence detecting the presence and relativelevel of the contaminant in the environment about the dispenser, and (b)repeating from time to time steps of: (i) removing the reservoir coupledto the housing and the respective sensor coupled to the dispenser and(ii) replacing the reservoir coupled to the housing by coupling anotherof the reservoirs to the housing and at the same time as replacing thereservoir coupled to the housing both (a) replacing the respectivesensor coupled to the dispenser by coupling another respective sensor tothe dispenser open to the environment about the dispenser and (b)activating the another respective sensor to commence detecting thepresence and relative level of the contaminant in the environment aboutthe dispenser, generating, for each dispenser periodically over time,signals representative of the level of the contaminant on each sensor atdifferent times, converting the signals to data representative of thelevel of the contaminant on each sensor at different times, comparingthe level of the contaminant sensed with one or more thresholds anddetermining if the level of contaminant does not meet the thresholds. 2.A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein: providing each of the reservoirswith a respective one of the sensors mechanically linked to eachrespective one of the reservoirs against separation from the respectiveone of the reservoirs, coupling each of the reservoirs to the housingwith the respective sensor mechanically linked to each of thereservoirs, and coupling each of the respective sensors to the dispenserwhile mechanically linked to its respective reservoir.
 3. A method asclaimed in claim 2 wherein: providing a removable release sheet memberon the sensor which when engaged on the sensor prevents operation of thesensor, providing a removable closure member on each reservoir whichwhen engaged on the reservoir prevents coupling of the reservoir to thehousing, providing each closure member mechanically linked to therelease sheet member of the sensor on each respective reservoir, and atthe time of coupling each reservoir to the housing, removing theremovable closure member from the reservoir to be coupled and therebyremoving the release sheet member on the sensor to activate the sensorto detect the presence and relative level of the contaminant.
 4. Amethod as claimed in claim 2 including: providing on each dispenser withan electrically powered control module including a wirelesscommunications system and an electrical power source, providing eachsensor as a wireless sensor having electrically connected elementsindependent of the control module including a contaminant sensingmechanism, a sensor processor controlling the contaminant sensingmechanism and generating the signals, a sensor power source, and asensor communication device with a wireless communications capabilityand having each sensor communicate wirelessly the signals to thecommunications system provided on the dispenser to which the sensor iscoupled.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 3 including: providing on eachdispenser with an electrically powered control module including awireless communications system and an electrical power source, providingeach sensor as a wireless sensor having electrically connected elementsindependent of the control module including a contaminant sensingmechanism, a sensor processor controlling the contaminant sensingmechanism and generating the signals, a sensor power source, and asensor communication device with a wireless communications capabilityand having each sensor communicate wirelessly the signals to thecommunications system provided on the dispenser to which the sensor iscoupled.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 1 including: Providing on eachdispenser with an electrically powered control module including awireless communications system and an electrical power source, providingeach sensor as a wireless sensor having electrically connected elementsindependent of the control module including a contaminant sensingmechanism, a sensor processor controlling the contaminant sensingmechanism and generating the signals, a sensor power source, and asensor communication device with a wireless communications capabilityand having each sensor communicate wirelessly the signals to thecommunications system provided on the dispenser to which the sensor iscoupled.
 7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein each sensor consistsof an integrated circuit microchip, the contaminant sensing mechanismincluding a biological recognition system for the contaminant and atransducer on the microchip.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 7 whereinthe biologic pathogen is selected from the group consisting bacteria andviruses.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the plurality ofdispensers comprises at least 200 dispensers and the method including:communicating the signals from the dispensers to a common processor,monitoring the level of contaminants on each dispenser periodically overtime, calculating periodically contaminant group levels for two or moregroups of the dispensers based on a function of the level ofcontaminants on each dispenser over selected periods of time with acontaminant sensing mechanism, a sensor communication device and asensor power source, comparing the contaminant group levels for a firstof said groups with the contaminant group levels for a second of saidgroups, and when the contaminant group levels for the first of saidgroups varies from the contaminant group levels for the second of saidgroups instituting a counter measure towards reducing contaminant grouplevels for one of the first of said groups and the second of saidgroups, wherein the counter measure is selected from the group of: (a)increasing a dosage of fluid dispensed in a single activation of thepump for each dispenser in one of the first of said groups and thesecond of said groups over a dosage of fluid dispensed in a singleactivation of the pump for each dispenser in the other of the first ofsaid groups and the second of said groups, (b) changing the fluid thateach dispenser in one of the first of said groups and the second of saidgroups dispenses over the fluid that each dispenser dispenses in theother of the first of said groups and the second of said groups to havegreater or different cleaning or disinfecting properties, (c)introducing different hygiene compliance policies in areas of thefacility containing one of the first of said groups and the second ofsaid groups over hygiene compliance policies in areas of the facilitycontaining in the other of the first of said groups and the second ofsaid groups, and (d) providing different vaccinations and or medicationto persons in areas of the facility containing one of the first of saidgroups and the second of said groups over vaccinations and or medicationprovided to persons in areas of the facility containing the other of thefirst of said groups and the second of said groups.
 10. A method asclaimed in claim 7 wherein each reservoir contains a volume of fluid inthe range of 500 ml to 2 litres, and each sensor has a useful life tosense the contaminant not greater than 4 weeks following activating ofeach respective sensor.
 11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein: inwhich the plurality of dispensers is selected from the group consistingof at least
 100. 12. A method as claimed in claim 10 includingdetermining the speed at which the level of the contaminant increaseswith time and utilizing the speed as a factor in calculating the levelof the contaminant on each sensor over time.
 13. A method as claimed inclaim 1 including: providing for the activation of each dispenser by auser to dispense a dose of fluid, sensing the time of each activation ofeach dispenser to dispense the fluid, and modifying the thresholdshaving regard to the number of the activations.
 14. A method as claimedin claim 13 wherein: sensing the activating of each sensor as a functionof time, utilizing the length of time from the activating of each sensoras a factor in calculating the level of contaminants on each sensorperiodically over time.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 13 including:determining the location of each dispenser within the facility, andmodifying the thresholds having regard to the location of each dispenserwithin the facility.
 16. A method as claimed in claim 1 including:determining the location of each dispenser within the facility, andmodifying the thresholds having regard to the location of each dispenserwithin the facility.
 17. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein eachsensor comprises a biological recognition system for the contaminant anda transducer based on an integrated circuit microchip.
 18. A method asclaimed in claim 1 wherein each sensor consists of an integrated circuitmicrochip, the microchip including a biological recognition system forthe contaminant and a transducer.
 19. A method as claimed in claim 1including: providing a removable release sheet member on the sensorwhich, when engaged on the sensor, prevents operation of the sensor, andat the time of coupling each of the reservoirs to the housing, removingthe release sheet to activate the sensor to detect the presence andrelative level of the contaminant.
 20. A method as claimed in claim 1including: providing a removable release sheet member on the sensorwhich when engaged on the sensor prevents operation of the sensor,providing a removable closure member on each reservoir which whenengaged on the reservoir prevents coupling of the reservoir to thehousing, providing each closure member mechanically linked to therelease sheet member of the sensor on each respective reservoir, and atthe time of coupling each reservoir to the housing, removing theremovable closure member from the reservoir to be coupled and therebyremoving the release sheet member on the sensor to activate the sensorto detect the presence and relative level of the contaminant.
 21. Amethod as claimed in claim 1 wherein each reservoir contains a volume offluid in the range of 500 ml to 2 litres, and each sensor has a usefullife to sense the contaminant not greater than 4 weeks followingactivating of each respective sensor.
 22. A method as claimed in claim21 in which the plurality of dispensers comprises a number of thedispensers which is selected from the group consisting of at least 100.23. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein each sensor has a sensingability that degrades with time from activating the dispenser, sensingthe activating of each sensor as a function of time, utilizing thelength of time from said activating of each sensor as a factor incalculating the level of the contaminant on each sensor over time.
 24. Amethod as claimed in claim 1 including determining the speed at whichthe level of the contaminant increases with time and utilizing the speedas a factor in calculating the level of the contaminant on each sensorover time.